Another weight loss tablet approved for use in UK – patients on new pill shed 11% of
A second weight-loss tablet has been approved for use in the UK after the arrival of the Wegovy pill.
Orforglipron, a once-daily oral drug produced by the same manufacturers as Mounjaro, has been given the green light by British health officials.
Its approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) comes just two months after the Wegovy pill – made by Novo Nordisk – in June.
Trials have shown that the orforglipron tablet sees patients lose around 11.2 per cent of their body weight after around 16 months on the medication.
Like the Wegovy pill the drug is not yet available on the NHS, and instead will only be offered privately.
Britain is the first European nation to have approved orforglipron.
And its arrival marks yet another breakthrough for the drugs, known as GLP-1s, which are now believed to be taken by around 2.5million adults in the UK.
Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 – classed as obese – or with a BMI of more than 27 and a weight-related health condition, will be able to access it.
Orforglipron, a once-daily tablet produced by the same manufacturers as Mounjaro, has been given the green light by British health officials
It will be authorised for use, like other GLP-1s , alongside a reduced-calorie diet.
Type 2 diabetes patients who need assistance controlling their blood sugar levels will also be able to seek a prescription.
According to the MHRA, ‘decisions on NHS use will follow established processes, including an evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)’.
Julian Beach, MHRA Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said: ‘Following rigorous assessment of orforglipron’s safety, quality, and effectiveness, we are pleased to be the first regulator in Europe to authorise this tablet for weight management and type 2 diabetes.
‘As with all GLP-1 receptor agonists, this is a prescription-only medication, and the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of orforglipron under close review.’
Orforglipron was approved for use in the US earlier this year.
There is no timeline for when it will be available in Britain yet, however the Wegovy pill was rolled out in early July – almost a month after it was approved by the MHRA.
The MHRA say the pills will only be available from a registered pharmacy and ‘with a prescription from a doctor’.
‘Buying GLP-1 medicines from unregulated sellers carries serious health risks,’ they add.
The treatment can be taken at any time of the day – though only once – with ‘no food or water restrictions’.
The tablets come in a range of doses, beginning at 0.8mg, rising to 17.2mg. Each dosage must be taken for a minimum of one month, according to the MHRA.
Like other GLP-1s, the drug works by mimicking a hormone in the gut that is released by the body after eating.
This, in turn, reduces hunger, and makes patients feel fuller for longer.
The main side effects of taking orforglipron include nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion and stomach pains.
Anyone who suspects they have suffered a side effect is encouraged to speak to a healthcare professional and make a report on the MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme.